Chapter 20

Maria

Vengeance is mine, sayeth the Lord.

But in this case, my husband had considered himself God, cleared of any wrongdoing because of the reason he'd found the brutality necessary. Had it been? Had he needed to ravage and kill the man?

Truthfully, I didn't know.

Even worse? I didn't blame him.

He'd taken joy in destroying the person who'd attacked his sister. I could see it in his eyes, the glee and lack of remorse shining brightly through. And that's exactly what he had planned for the men who'd attacked him and killed one of his soldiers. Could I blame him? I wasn't sure I was even thinking clearly enough to be honest with myself.

How horrible that a small part of me was not only applauding how he'd done what he could to avenge what had happened with his sister, but also knew in my heart he'd do the same thing for me and the knowledge gave me a smile.

Maybe you aren't so goody two shoes after all.

"Now, I've terrified you all over again. Haven't I?" Daniel asked, his hooded eyes mesmerizing.

"No, I…"

"Don't lie to me. You find me repulsive even after growing up in the same life I was born into."

"Not repulsive, just…"

"Say it. Reprehensible? Disturbing? Toxic? I assure you that if I hadn't and my father had found out, he would have forced the asshole to watch while he defiled every female member of the soldier's family before killing them."

"If you find the soldiers you mentioned, you're going to do what you did to your sister's attacker to them. Right?"

"It's business, Maria. It's necessary to save face in this town and to keep our empire strong. Without some level of retaliation, other syndicates will believe they can walk all over us. I have a brother and sister-in-law to protect as they do with me. I have a sweet niece and nephew on the way. I have parents who could be taken out just because our enemies believe it's the right time. Just imagine what they would do should they get ahold of you. I won't allow any of those scenarios to occur."

My throat tightened, a sickening haze forming in front of my eyes. However, the man's conviction still warmed my heart. As I'd asked myself several times before, what did that make me deep inside? The way he'd challenged the darkness he insisted he'd seen in me had been furrowing in my mind, nagging at me incessantly. At this moment it was even worse. "Why are you telling me this?"

"Because you wanted me to be truthful with you about who I was and my life. I'm honoring your request."

I was shaking, angry with myself for needing to hear the end of the story. But I did. "I still want that no matter what you tell me. If I am to be your wife, then I am also your partner."

He laughed. "My partner. Be careful what you ask for, princess. What you may learn will keep you awake at night. However, you will never be allowed to participate in my line of work."

"And what did I tell you before? I don't scare that easily. I can take it."

"Hmmm… Perhaps."

"What happened after that? Were you found or did you return home of your own accord?" I sensed his continued surprise that I was pushing him.

"After what I'd accomplished, I felt exhilarated, more determined than ever I was a man to contend with. In other words, I was a goddamn fool to think I wouldn't be tracked down. My father found me because I'd been caught stealing food in a diner since I had no money of my own. Plus, I think my sister ratted me out, worried that I'd do something I'd regret. At the time, my father handled business the old way just like you've heard about in the movies, making business owners pay taxes to keep them safe. I didn't know that. I'd managed to steal from one of my father's clients, as he called them. That had prompted the aging man to contact my father right away after locking me in the storeroom."

Now it was my turn to laugh. "What did your father do?"

"He had his men clean up after me, saying nothing at all when shoving me into the passenger seat of his car. When he got home, I was sent to my room like I was eleven all over again."

"Did he punish you?"

His smile was infectious, lighting up the late morning sky. "You have no idea. That happened later after we got home, but what he did before that had allowed me to see a side of him that up to that point, I hadn't seen before. You know what's funny? I couldn't remember the last conversation I'd had with my father before that. His disinterest in being a father had crossed over into his everyday behavior with business. I was so used to him being powerful and dominant that the moment he walked into the diner, I almost wet my pants."

He eased off the horse, helping me to do the same. When he shoved his hands into his pockets, I could tell he was very happy being on the ranch, maybe the only place he felt like himself. "What did he do?"

"First, he bought me food, lots of food. All my favorites and he sat there with me as I ate every bite like the starving kid I was. He asked me why I'd attacked his enemy's soldiers, so I told him. After I was finished, he told me how horribly worried my mother had been the entire time, unable to eat or sleep given her misery. He'd told me he'd been concerned too, especially since the leader of the rival syndicate had been breathing down his neck."

"Did they retaliate?"

"No, because the mafia leader never learned what happened to his men. Strangely enough, my father clapped me on the back telling me how proud of me he was. I'd longed for that my entire life, but when he said it after what I'd done, I'd remained sick for weeks. It was also the only time in his life that he told me he loved me. The entire incident was something I never forgot."

"That changed you."

"It did. He earned my respect to a point. However, I realized I didn't want to be like my brother or my father. Where I'd felt ashamed before, I felt vindicated in knowing I wasn't the boy I'd hoped to be. I'd just craved the attention. So I went back to school and never looked back. I graduated from high school early, then went onto college with my father's encouragement. I even earned a master's degree."

Why was he telling me this—in hopes I wouldn't see him as the monster I'd believed him to be?

"Then why not live your life the way you wanted instead of being molded into your father's shadow like your brother?"

"Because the truth is ugly. I am like my father, Maria. His blood runs through me. My desire for power is the same. Make no mistake about that. Your early assumptions of me were spot on. I'm a savage and there's no getting around it." He turned to face me, slowly walking in my direction. I'd never seen a man look at with such passion in his eyes, such need furrowing in his brow. He backed me toward one of the larger trees, his upper lip curling as he did so.

"No, you're not." From what I'd seen of his father at the wedding, I could easily disagree. He'd done nothing but bark orders at the people at the reception and his soldiers who'd flanked the location, constantly walking the perimeter.

He planted one hand on the tree, crowding my space even more. "I'm surprised you seem to think so given all you've said before. I do have a business to run, an empire to continue building."

"Then you don't know me at all, but you'll learn."

The sound of his voice was also driving me crazy.

I wasn't certain if he was trying to rile me or was teasing me all over again. "I think I do. But now you're telling me nothing else matters in your life. So it's nothing more than all business all the time. Why do you even want a family?" I searched his eyes for a few seconds. "Because it's required of you?"

"You say that like family requirements are a bad thing."

"Creating a family is about falling in love. If the relationship is forced in any way, then it will never be anything special. No matter what you think. While chemistry is important, the kind of burning desire that stills your heart and steals your breath, without trust and respect… and love, what does it even matter?" Maybe I was daydreaming about a fairytale and nothing more.

"Marriage is a product of building a good life."

I rolled my eyes, purposely looking away but he was having none of it, gripping my chin and forcing me to look at him once again. "Maybe you're right but money means absolutely nothing to me. You can't impress me with diamonds or furs, expensive cars, or even by the number of horses you own. The truth is, you have everything, yet you have nothing."

"I have you." He lowered his head, his chest rising and falling.

There was something so powerful about our connection that I was momentarily at a loss for words. I found myself gripping his shirt, curling the material with my fingers. "Not really. I will never fall in love with you, not that you want that."

"You really don't know me at all and I assure you that you will fall in love with me."

"Then you don't know me very well. I am curious about something." I was now whispering given the closeness of his face, the heated breath skipping across my face. "Do you even enjoy anything? Let me rephrase that. Do you enjoy the simple pleasures in life?"

"What are those to you?"

"Look around you, Daniel. This is one of the most gorgeous places on the face of this earth. The ranch and the horses, the beautiful home you own. The greenery. It's spectacular, but I bet you never spend time looking at it. When was the last time you had a glass of wine while sitting in front of a fire or took a picnic basket out with you when you went riding with someone special? I always see you drink whiskey. I bet you haven't walked on the beach, kicking seashells, or become delighted finding the perfect frozen drink on a hot summer's day. How about a movie or a concert? Or just curling up on the couch reading a book. Do any of those things sound pleasurable to you?"

He continued to lower his head, making the moment enticing and uncomfortable.

"I haven't invited any of the few women I've dated to my home so there haven't been any picnics. Wine is something to be enjoyed with someone else while whiskey is a man's drink when he's contemplating his future. I adore walking on the beach, but you'll learn that when we're finally allowed to go on our honeymoon. As far as reading a book, I admit that I'm far too busy. What I'm not too busy for is indulging in fulfilling your greatest fantasies and my darkest needs. I have a feeling you're the kind of woman who can handle that."

As he crushed his mouth over mine, I swooned even more than I'd done the night before. He had a way of making me feel completely giddy inside. Everything about him was indeed a surprise, from his vicious attitude towards his enemies to the passion for animals that was in total contradiction.

Then there was the level of passion and dominance he exuded, a truly sensual trait. As he pressed the weight of his body against mine, pushing his throbbing cock between my legs, I was more lightheaded than I'd ever been. Maybe it was the light breeze or the scent of his testosterone or that fact I could feel myself falling for someone that didn't belong to me.

He slowly eased one hand to my cheek, lightly brushing the tips of his fingers across my skin. I was more sensitive than before, little prickles dancing down my arms. When I wrapped one leg around his, the move seemed perfectly natural.

Seconds later he broke the kiss, driving his hand under my chin, using his thumb to lift my head. As he blew across my jaw, I closed my eyes, allowing myself to enjoy the moment of freedom. He was more sensual than I'd imagined he could be, taking his time to drag his tongue around my lips, growling as only he could do. Every sound he made, every guttural breath he took was a powerful aphrodisiac, which only increased the desire I felt for him.

As the breeze continued to tickle my face and neck, he tightened his hold around my throat, digging his fingers into me.

"If anyone dares to touch you, they will regret it." His words shouldn't thrill me like they did. I wasn't someone's possession, but I adored the way he made me feel.

I was so wet, my panties already soaked, the scent of my longing wafting between us. I rolled my fingers up and down his arm, shuddering to my core from the feel of his bulging muscles. How could a man be so perfect yet so… dangerous?

Just when I was certain he was going to take me right here, we both heard the deep roar of an engine. Whoever was heading in our direction was doing so at a high rate of speed.

Immediately, Daniel tensed, spinning around to protect me with his body, pulling out his weapon.

"Do not move," he instructed, his voice deeper and more authoritative than before.

I was quivering, suddenly terrified. Gone was all my bravado. I was living in an entirely different world. He held the weapon out with two hands prepared to shoot if necessary. As the vehicle came even closer, he hissed under his breath.

When he lowered the gun, I peeked out from around him, still unable to see who was driving given the dark windows. But Daniel seemed to know.

"Stay here. Let me assess the situation." All four doors of the vehicle were opened, huge men piling outside, Kane the driver.

If he thought I wasn't going to learn what was happening, he was out of his mind.

"What the hell is going on?"

"There's good news and bad news," Kane huffed. "What do you want first?"

Daniel did nothing but glare at him.

"Okay. Okay. Some of our people were shot in three locations. They appear to be random attacks," Kane said before glancing around Daniel toward me.

Daniel bristled. "There are no such things as random attacks. What's the goddamn good news and it better be what I think it is."

Kane nodded excitedly. "We found Liam's soldiers, although no sight of him or Ronin either."

Daniel noticed I was right behind him, turning toward me slightly. It was an ‘I told you so' moment, allowing me to hear his plans to see how I would react.

I refused to flinch.

"Then we're going to slaughter the bastards one by one if they don't tell us where Liam and his family are holed up. Make certain we have a contingency of men prepared for a bloodbath. Call the cleanup crew and the officers we own assigned to Irish town. Let them know to look the other way."

"You're eager to start a war," Kane stated, the glee in his eyes disgusting.

"If necessary. Just do as I say. I need a few moments."

"You got it, boss. I also called Brock. He's already waiting at the house with five soldiers."

"Excellent. Have him bring at least three more to the estate. If the bastard attacked my men, the house will be next. If necessary, we'll place a trap for them, but first things first. His men will face punishment."

Kane nodded. "I'm on it. So you know, the new security is currently being installed."

Daniel laughed bitterly. "Well, better late than never."

"I'm not sure I like this. It's like they're playing a game," Kane said under his breath.

"They are, but you know I'm an excellent chess player. Wait for me while I attend to a couple of things. Follow us back."

"Yes, sir. We'll have some fun like we used to."

Fun. I was sick inside but refused to show it. I'd asked to be involved. Now I had to suck it up.

The man gave me another quick look and a nod before all four jumped back into the vehicle, Daniel turning toward me. The look of anger on his face was quickly placed by one of concern. He kept his weapon in his hand as he approached, rubbing his jaw. When he spoke, his voice remained low. "If I tell you to do something, you need to follow my instructions. More now than before."

"No. As I told you before, I want to know what I'm in the middle of. Are you really killing several men?"

"Don't ask questions where you don't want to know the truth."

"I do want to know the truth. This is a part of my life now. I'm not the innocent girl you seem to think I am."

He laughed. "No, I guess you are not. That darkness I noticed before is peeking out more and more. Perhaps you've just been hiding your true self from me, beautiful pet. Is that the case?" The way he was looking at me was nerve-racking.

"You don't know what I'm made of, Daniel."

As he cupped the side of my face, he shook his head. "I can't wait to find out. To answer your question, yes, I'm going big game hunting. And I'm the kind of man who enjoys placing trophies on my walls."

"You're not a killer. You're not the monster you claim yourself to be."

"My sweet wife has changed her mind."

"Don't do something you'll regret."

He rubbed his thumb across my lips and it was difficult not to melt into him. "I assure you that I regret almost nothing in my life. Least of all marrying you. When I return, I'll have a surprise. Call it a wedding present."

Daniel was shutting down his passionate side, turning into the cold-blooded killer I'd heard him to be.

The gleam in his eyes, the way he laughed sent another shiver down my spine.

And it reminded me that the glass house was already cracking.